Original reference as:
- Konings, Ad & H.W. Dieckhoff. 1992. "Tanganyika Secrets". Cichlid Press. 1-207 (crc01388)
Conservation: Tropheus sp. 'ikola' is not evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species. Abundant and well-sized in imports, this restricted range very well individualized variety is nevertheless vulnerable to genomic pollution would another "black" Tropheus (for example, from Mabilibili) is introduced in its habitat.